THE Commission on Elections has asked Ronald Cardema, disqualified nominee of the Duterte Youth party-list group, to appear at the poll body’s office in Intramuros, Manila on December 13.
The Comelec subpoenaed Cardema for a complaint of “material misrepresentation” for declaring himself eligible to run as a nominee of a youth sector group.
Cardema, former chair of the National Youth Commission, was 34 years old during the elections last May. The law states a nominee for a youth group must not be older than 30 years.
The Comelec also directed Cardema to submit his counter-affidavit and other supporting documents to the Comelec’s Law Department.
“You are hereby warned that failure on your part to comply with this subpoena shall be considered as a waiver of your right to present your defense and the case shall be considered submitted for resolution based on the evidence on record,” the Comelec said in the subpoena dated November 27.
The complaint was filed by private individuals Michael Navarez, Abigail Aleli Tan, and Sean Angelo Thakur who are accusing Cardema of violating Section 74 of the Omnibus Election Code or for “material misrepresentation” when he declared himself as an eligible nominee of Duterte Youth.
Last August, Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon directed the Law Department “to initiate an investigation on the probability that Ronald Cardema may have committed the criminal offense of material misrepresentation by stating under oath in his certificate of nomination and acceptance that he is qualified to be representative of the youth sector.”
